(15) a crime involving
domestic violence as defined in section 3 of P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-19),
whether or not armed with or having in his possession a weapon enumerated in
subsection r. of N.J.S.2C:39-1;

(16) leader of a narcotics
trafficking network pursuant to N.J.S.2C:35-3;

(17) maintaining or operating
a controlled dangerous substance production facility pursuant to N.J.S.2C:35-4;

b. The provisions of this
section shall not apply to a person convicted of an offense enumerated in
paragraphs (22) or (23) of subsection a. of this section involving any firearm
which is in the nature of an air gun, spring gun or pistol or other weapon of a
similar nature in which the propelling force is a spring, elastic band, carbon
dioxide, compressed or other gas or vapor, air or compressed air, or is ignited
by compressed air, and ejecting a bullet or missile smaller than three-eighths
of an inch in diameter, with sufficient force to injure a person.

c. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this section, a person who has been convicted of an offense
enumerated in subsection a. of this section who receives an acquittal on
appeal, an expungement, a pardon, or any other reversal of the conviction may
purchase, own, possess, or control ammunition without a judicial proceeding
being required.

2. This act shall take effect
on the first day of the fourth month following enactment.

STATEMENT

This bill makes it a crime of
the fourth degree for a person to purchase, own, or possess ammunition if the
person has been previously convicted of certain crimes. A crime of the fourth
degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months or a fine of
up to $10,000 or both.

Under the bill, a conviction
for any of the following crimes would bar the person from purchasing, owning,
possessing or controlling firearms ammunition: aggravated assault; arson;
burglary; escape; extortion; homicide; kidnapping; robbery; aggravated sexual
assault; sexual assault; bias intimidation; endangering the welfare of a child;
stalking; a crime involving domestic violence; leader of a narcotics
trafficking network; maintaining or operating a controlled dangerous substance
production facility; manufacturing, distributing or dispensing controlled
dangerous substances; employing a juvenile in a drug distribution scheme;
distributing or dispensing on or near school property; distributing imitation
controlled dangerous substances; possession of prohibited weapons and devices;
possession of weapons for unlawful purposes; manufacture, transport,
disposition and defacement of weapons and dangerous instruments and appliances;
disarming a law enforcement officer; carjacking; human trafficking;
racketeering; producing or possessing chemical weapons, biological agents or
nuclear or radiological devices, or terrorism. The bill exempts from its
provisions firearms convictions involving possession of BB guns, pellet guns,
airsoft guns, and slingshots.

The bill also provides that a
person who has been convicted of a disqualifying offense who subsequently receives
an acquittal on appeal, an expungement, a pardon, or any other reversal of the
conviction may purchase, own, possess, or control ammunition without a judicial
proceeding being required.